I grew up in a house with my dad, my mom, and two sisters. With one look at my mom’s hair, you could see that she was a perfectionist as a hair stylist. She sectioned our long hair with precision and accuracy. You could measure it with a tape. She used a comb dipped into water to flatten our hair, then she pulled our hair to the sides to make two neat ponytails. We instantly became Chinese. For gymnastics, I had two buns on the side of my head, not to interfere with all the rolling exercises. In case of an unruly hair or two, clips would do the trick to keep them in place.
To this day, my mom (now 77) does not go for the messy, wake-up look. During my high school and university years, I stayed in hostels. Girls would fill the corridors to find more plugs to do their hair before setting foot outside in the morning. I was used to girls fussing over their hair.
With only two boys, I sometimes felt nostalgic about those days, until my lastborn had me braiding his hair for a while. At first, I felt a little out of touch, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. It lasted less than a year though - this longer hair phase of his.
What does your hair reveal about you? Yes, hair can speak. According to experts, your hair expresses your identity. The Bible’s Samson had long hair that symbolized divine strength. Political figures and judges wear wigs as a sign of wisdom and fairness.
They say that red hair means that you are a big ball of fun energy, high ponytails show off a goal-orientated personality and a bunch of bouncy curls says a lot about your free-spirited lifestyle. One humorous reading even said that when you wear your hair in long waves, you have a longing to go to the beach. I like a cropped cut. Apparently it means that I am not afraid to rock something different and that I am confident. The truth is: I think it suits me best and saves me time.
I am sure that we, as women, can write books about our hair. Some of us have weekly appointments booked for a year in advance. Others cut and color every 6 weeks. Then there are the ones, like me, who go when and where the budget allows us to go. My mother-in-law used to say: “There are only two weeks between a good and a bad hairdresser”. I bet she never went to the barber. I once walked out of there with barely a hair on my head left. That two weeks afterwards felt like two months. Note to self: Nice hair are not cheap and cheap hair are not nice.
In my younger years, I liked changing my hair. When I could not change the length, I would change the color. Not being a people pleaser, my cut and color were usually bold and adventurous. With one of my hairstyles, my mom did not want to attend church with me. On another day, when I received my son’s drawing from the nursery school – I had a huge smile and spiky, green hair. Apparently, the teacher had to intervene when he was teased and he felt he had to defend me with my newest choppy cut. In another growing phase, I opted for braids. Some may call this rebellion, I just call it boredom.
Covid made the majority of us realize that hairdressers are essential workers. My first, real hairdresser (I said I would follow her to Timbuktu, but then she moved to Witbank) was extremely essential. She literally saved my life, introducing me to the most essential - Jesus! A hairdresser’s job description does not end at cut, blow, color, or style, it includes: being a trusted friend, counsellor and/or therapist, or in my case, pastor.
The pros of going to a hairdresser outweigh all the cons:
· They are great listeners. They know our successes and failures, hope and despair, triumphs and disappointments. They share our weddings and even funerals.
· They are confidence boosters. While solving our problems, they are building our confidence - it is here that you hear the words “Head up” a few times during the therapy session. And it sticks.
· It is a win-win situation. You walk out of there refreshed, beautiful AND you save on your medical bills.
· You lose a few unwanted kilo’s as you have spent all your money on your hair and you won’t have any left to buy food.
· Getting your hair done feels like taking a vacation, without spending thousands.
I have found that we are all in a constant search for a suitable haircut as our moods are influenced by good and bad hair days. I need to share some valuable tips to create more good hair days:
· On rainy days, keep your umbrella close. We don’t worry about getting wet, the first thing we think or say when it starts raining: My hair!!!
· If you use box color, always use the tried and tested one. Be careful when changing brands. Buying a different box color is like opening a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.
· Dry shampoo is espresso for hair. You can hit snooze when you know there is dry shampoo or baby powder in the bathroom cupboard.
· Use quality hairspray. With enough hairspray, I think I can hold my life together.
· On good hair days, take selfies.
· Do not do an upper body workout right before you need to blow dry and/or straighten your longer hair. You will need all the arm strength you have.
I have learned in life that we can’t control everything. I think that is why hair was put on our heads; to remind us of that. Yes, life may not be perfect, but your hair can be. Life may leave you speechless sometimes, then let your hair do the talking.
Invest in your hair. It is the crown you never take off.
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